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Discover the incredible highlands of Iceland on this 3-day trekking tour of Landmannalaugar. Landmannalaugar is a magical place in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve in the Highlands of Iceland. Known for the vibrant colors of its silica-rich igneous volcanic rock mountains and lava fields, this destination is home to the most perfect hiking trails.
Whether you are an experienced hiker, or you simply wish to enjoy Iceland’s natural beauty, this hike is sure to leave you feeling as though you are walking through a beautiful painting.
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This tour includes three fabulous days of trekking. Hike by the breathtakingly beautiful Frostastaðavatn Lake and visit Ljótipollur, an incredibly beautiful red volcano crater filled with bright-blue water. The name Ljótipollur means úgly pool’, so it seems that whoever named it had a sense of humor! See the stunning volcano, Mount Brennisteinsalda, often said to be the most colorful mountain in Iceland, close to the base of this mountain you will see surreal clouds of steam wafting from the geothermal vents. On this trip, you also get the chance to reach the summit of Suðuhámur, another colorful and stunning rhyolite mountain. You will be amazed by the stark beauty of the Vondugil Canyon at the edge of the Laugahraun lava field. Get grandstand views over the Landmannalaugar geothermal area from the top of the Bláhnúkur peak. Bláhnúkur means ´the Blue Peak’, this blue-greenish volcano mountain was formed around 60,000 years ago. For fuller details of the highlights of this tour please see the itinerary.
Your days of hiking are rewarded with stupendous views and evenings spent in an amazing highland location. There is nothing more relaxing or rejuvenating than bathing in a hot spring pool surrounded by blue, green, mellow caramel and even red-tinged peaks, as soft sulfur-scented steam drifts around you. Enjoy the company of like-minded fellow travelers and make new friends.
Our Three Day Trekking Trip to one of the most geothermally active areas in Iceland is perfect for avid hikers and outdoors enthusiasts. Landmannalaugar is the official starting point for the famous Laugavegur Trek, ranked as a world top 20 hike by National Geographic Magazine.
You are picked up from your arranged meeting point, we introduce ourselves and board the scheduled bus that takes us to Landmannalaugar. From Reykjavik, you are driven inland through the beautiful Thjórsárdalur valley (Þjórsárdalur), named after the river Thjórsá (Þjórsá), the longest river in Iceland.
We head towards Hekla Volcano, passing the extensive lava fields formed by famous eruptions on our way to the Landmannalaugar area. We enjoy lunch surrounded by amazing peaks, getting to know one another.
After lunch, we will set off on a 10 km hike to the ill-named Ljótipollur (it means ugly puddle), this lake with the ‘ugly’ name has made its way, at number 42, onto a list of the most beautiful crater lakes in the world. The incredible red crater filled with brilliant blue water is real eye-candy! Our hike will take us to Frostastaðavatn, an amazingly beautiful lake in the midst of surreal landscapes. With these sensational scenes and the crazily colorful rhyolite mountains, your camera will work overtime today!
In the evening, not far from the mountain hut, you will find an amazing hot spring-fed bathing pool. Enjoying some hot spring bathing moments is highly recommended - with the mystical landscapes of the Icelandic Highlands rising around you this is really special.
Today we will hike to Suðurnámur, a 200,000-year-old mountain peak which is very rich in rhyolite minerals. On the way up to the Suðurnamur peak, you will enjoy numerous ravines and views over the colorful peaks in this area: soft sandy toned mountains contrasting with verdant greens, blues, deep golds and sometimes vibrant reds. From this pinnacle, you can survey the empire of Landmannalaugar!
After nourishing breakfast buffet, your adventures continue with a 3.5-hour long hike on Bláhnúkur, the blue peak - this 60,000-year-old volcano mountain exhibits extraordinary bluish colors. We will follow the hiking trail to the top, from where five stunning glaciers can be seen in good visibility.
The top of Bláhnukur is one of the very best places to photograph the panoramic Landmannalaugar landscapes. From the mountain top it is easy to appreciate the powerful influence of geothermal activity on these landscapes, your guide will share some fascinating geological and geothermal facts with you. After coming down and enjoying a short break we board the bus back to Reykjavik, we arrive in the center of the city at around 21:00.
Extras of important health supplies or special prescription medicines if needed.
Meeting points and times in Reykjavik:
Between 7:00 - 7:30 a.m.:
- Reykjavik's City Hall (Ráðhúsið) on Vonarstræti
- Hallgrímskirkja Church
- Reykjavik Campsite
Meeting points outside of Reykjavik:
8:15 a.m. - Selfoss N1 gas station
9:00 a.m. - Hella Bus Terminal
*Note that it can take up to 30 minutes before the bus departs the given locations.
Don’t worry, you can always rent sturdy hiking shoes, a waterproof jacket and pants in the booking process or add them to your booking. You can book these items and more under the selection “Extras” in the booking widget when booking your tour on our website.
If you have already booked the tour and wish to add some rental gear to your booking, you can do so at least 24 hours prior to your tour starting by using our customer portal - My Adventures, or contacting our customer care.
Please keep in mind that we do not rent gear on location.
First of all, check the weather forecast but keep in mind that the weather in Iceland can be extremely unpredictable, as you may have heard. We have a saying “If you don’t like the weather in Iceland, just wait 5 minutes” which is sometimes disturbingly accurate!
The weather can be anything from sunny to snowy in almost any season although snow is rare during summer time. We do suggest that you dress accordingly. This means in layers, thermal closest to you and waterproof on top. We’ve prepared a guide to help you get ready for your adventures, check out – How to prepare for hiking and trekking in Iceland.
No, please do not wear jeans and sneakers on this tour, it’s not appropriate clothing for this type of tour. Check the list of what to bring to see what kind of clothing is appropriate.
